Simon Martin, head of group sustainability and corporate responsibility, said: “HSBC is determined to develop a sustainable business.

“Our shareholders, customers and employees consider these issues to be important – and this clearly demonstrates our continuing progress in placing sustainability at the very core of how we do business.”

The programme includes designing and building HSBC’s first ‘zero carbon’ branch in New York, which aims to optimise energy efficiency by using geothermal ground source heat pumps.

Engaging the company’s global workforce of 315,000 employees will also be a key factor in the success of the programme, Martin said.